One of the most influential directors in the history of cinema, Martin Scorsese has written and directed some of the most poignant and thought provoking narratives. Political corruption, morality, religion and the Italian American identity are some of the varied themes explored closely in his oeuvre of films. His filmography is diverse and his direction is studied widely today for its cinematic genius. He is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest filmmakers of our generation.
On the occasion of his 78th birthday, we have curated a list of some of his most iconic films:
Who's That Knocking at My Door
Who's That Knocking at My Door, originally titled I Call First, released in 1967, was an independent drama film written and directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Harvey Keitel and Zina Bethune. It was Scorsese's feature film directorial debut and Keitel's debut as an actor. Exploring themes of Catholic guilt similar to those in his later film Mean Streets, the story follows Italian-American J.R. as he struggles to accept the secret hidden by his independent and free-spirited girlfriend. Touted as a relevant evocation of the city life, this movie surely marked the arrival of Scorsese as a voice of authority in the world of cinema.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is the 1974 dramedy film written by Robert Getchell. It stars Ellen Burstyn as a widow who travels with her preteen son across the Southwestern United States, in search of a better life. Kris Kristofferson, Billy ‘Green’ Bush, Diane Ladd, Valerie Curtin, Lelia Goldoni, Vic Tayback, Jodie Foster, Alfred Lutter and Harvey Keitel are featured in supporting roles. In the public narrative for both attack and defence by feminists, this one lies somewhere outside ideology, inside the area between contemporary myth and romance, as claimed by critics.
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver is the 1976 American psychological thriller directed by Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. Set in a decaying and morally bankrupt New York City following the Vietnam War, the film tells the story of Travis Bickle, a lonely taxi driver who descends into insanity as he plots to assassinate both the presidential candidate for whom the woman he is infatuated with works, and the pimp of an underage prostitute he befriends. One of De Niro’s most dynamic roles till date, the movie is as much about its lead Travis, as it is about New York.
A film still from Taxi Driver
The Age of Innocence
The Age of Innocence is a 1993 historical romantic drama. The screenplay, an adaptation of the 1920 novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, was written by Scorsese and Jay Cocks. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder and Miriam Margolyes. The film recounts the courtship and marriage of Newland Archer, a wealthy New York society attorney, to May Welland. Archer then encounters and legally represents Countess Olenska prior to unexpected romantic entanglements.
The Age of Innocence is a 1993 historical romantic drama. The screenplay, an adaptation of the 1920 novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, was written by Scorsese and Jay Cocks. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder and Miriam Margolyes. The film recounts the courtship and marriage of Newland Archer, a wealthy New York society attorney, to May Welland. Archer then encounters and legally represents Countess Olenska prior to unexpected romantic entanglements.
Shutter Island
Shutter Island, released in 2010, is a neo-noir psychological thriller film written by Laeta Kalogridis, based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Deputy U.S. Marshal Edward ‘Teddy’ Daniels, who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island, after one of the patients goes missing. Mark Ruffalo plays his partner and fellow deputy marshal, Ben Kingsley is the facility's lead psychiatrist, Max von Sydow is a German doctor, and Michelle Williams is Daniels's wife. Scorsese’s riveting direction and ambiguous ending make this one a must watch.
Shutter Island, released in 2010, is a neo-noir psychological thriller film written by Laeta Kalogridis, based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Deputy U.S. Marshal Edward ‘Teddy’ Daniels, who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island, after one of the patients goes missing. Mark Ruffalo plays his partner and fellow deputy marshal, Ben Kingsley is the facility's lead psychiatrist, Max von Sydow is a German doctor, and Michelle Williams is Daniels's wife. Scorsese’s riveting direction and ambiguous ending make this one a must watch.
The Wolf of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street is a biographical crime black comedy film written by Terence Winter, based on the 2007 memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. It recounts Belfort's perspective on his career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm, Stratton Oakmont, engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street, which ultimately led to his downfall. Telling the tale of some morally corrupt men, Scorsese’s direction makes the film as exciting as it is repulsive.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is the third non-fiction book by the American journalist David Grann. The book was released on April 18, 2017. Time magazine listed the novel as one of its top ten non-fiction books of 2017. The book is currently planned for production as a film directed by Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.